Sunday, July 01, 2007
Something Else
Saw this movie 'Bridge to Terabathia' on the flight back from Canada. It's a PG-13 movie but was just as entertaining for adults. It brought back childhood memories and the theme was good - always open up your mind to possibilities and let imagination comes through, a typical Disney message brought by Disney.
This movie echoes what I felt strongly in this trip. Though I've lived in Canada before this time around, I've grown (literally too!) to appreciate the American value 'to dream and to pursuit' more. It's so entrenched in the culture you can find it everywhere. Maybe it's in the genes as America is a country founded by pioneers and enriched by emigrants in search of not benefits but a dream to get ahead. And this value is systematically passed on to each younger generation.
Take my 1st stop at the Disney magic kingdom as an example. Although the tomorrow land has ironically become the place that least lives up to its reputation with outdated attractions, I found time in the Disney gallery and read some literature about the rides. The monorail was actually the 1st one erected in North Amercia at the time (50s) and the 'submarine' (don't bother riding as the vessel doesn't even submerge) was the result of Walt Disney's effect to bring in the latest invention of the time to the park to show kids that everything was possible. The Disney visit was rounded up nicely with fireworks and of course the legendary song 'when you wish upon a star', the lyrics which I now wholeheartly believe. (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/wishstar.htm)
Next stop is Hollywood, the dream factory, and the Universal Studio is a fine place to instill that value into kids whilst also a fun experience itself. Even the Seaworld (Ocean Park of America) has the story of a young kid growing up dreaming to become a whale trainer, and of course he's succeed and is performing today. Whether this story is true or not is less important. Then there's the story of Las Vegas growing out of a desert.
I'm not even a half pro-america person but I acknowledge we do have much to learn from them in 'soft' education.
Finally, another good line spotted in America to share 'it costs nothing to dream but everything not to'.
This movie echoes what I felt strongly in this trip. Though I've lived in Canada before this time around, I've grown (literally too!) to appreciate the American value 'to dream and to pursuit' more. It's so entrenched in the culture you can find it everywhere. Maybe it's in the genes as America is a country founded by pioneers and enriched by emigrants in search of not benefits but a dream to get ahead. And this value is systematically passed on to each younger generation.
Take my 1st stop at the Disney magic kingdom as an example. Although the tomorrow land has ironically become the place that least lives up to its reputation with outdated attractions, I found time in the Disney gallery and read some literature about the rides. The monorail was actually the 1st one erected in North Amercia at the time (50s) and the 'submarine' (don't bother riding as the vessel doesn't even submerge) was the result of Walt Disney's effect to bring in the latest invention of the time to the park to show kids that everything was possible. The Disney visit was rounded up nicely with fireworks and of course the legendary song 'when you wish upon a star', the lyrics which I now wholeheartly believe. (http://www.niehs.nih.gov/kids/lyrics/wishstar.htm)
Next stop is Hollywood, the dream factory, and the Universal Studio is a fine place to instill that value into kids whilst also a fun experience itself. Even the Seaworld (Ocean Park of America) has the story of a young kid growing up dreaming to become a whale trainer, and of course he's succeed and is performing today. Whether this story is true or not is less important. Then there's the story of Las Vegas growing out of a desert.
I'm not even a half pro-america person but I acknowledge we do have much to learn from them in 'soft' education.
Finally, another good line spotted in America to share 'it costs nothing to dream but everything not to'.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]